New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) A bill seeking to frame stricter regulations for foreign contributions in form of gifts, funds and other forms to individuals and organisations in social fields was introduced in the Rajya Sabha Thursday.
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill, 2006 seeks to regulate the acceptance and utilisation of all foreign funds through donations, gifts or grants, and is intended to replace the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976.
Introducing the Bill in the upper house, Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran said the new legislation was needed as security concerns have increased over the past years.
While the 1976 act lists a number of organisations and individuals that are prohibited from accepting foreign contribution, the bill seeks to regulate the acceptance and utilisation of all foreign funds through donations, gifts or grants.
‘No person having a definite cultural, economic, educational, religious or social programme shall accept foreign contribution unless such person obtains a certificate of registration from the central government,’ the bill says.
The bill adds that the central government may deny, suspend or cancel certification under certain conditions.
